Labor Day—A Kumbaya Story
Do you take for granted some of the holidays that pop up during the year without really understanding why we observe them?
I’ll admit, I do.
Case in point—Labor Day.
So, since I just returned from a mini vacation with no blog post written yet, I used my research skills (thank you, Google) to try to understand the motive behind the holiday and speedily put together a post.
Spoiler alert: It’s about more than automotive sales and the last gasp of summer.
New York was the first state to pass a bill regarding Labor Day, but Oregon was the first state to pass a law recognizing Labor Day, in February 1887.
New York was also the first state to hold a Labor Day parade.
In June of 1894, Congress made Labor Day an official federal holiday.
So why did anyone feel we needed a Labor Day holiday?
Parades, parties, picnics, and such festivities were proposed to exhibit the strength of trade and labor organizations.
These celebrations became the norm for many Americans.
Our country’s standard of living has been enhanced by American laborers.
So it’s appropriate to celebrate the workers who keep America afloat.
There’s some discrepancy as to who first proposed the idea of having a day to honor laborers.
Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, a general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, suggested the general holiday in 1882.
Other records show we have to thank Matthew Maguire, a machinist and a leader in the Central Labor Union of New York.
Both men led strikes and protests that eventually led to the 8-hour workdays workers know today.
However, since Matthew Maguire was a bit more radical than Peter, the powers that be opted to bestow the founding of Labor Day to Peter.
But in a kumbaya moment, both Maguire and McGuire put aside whatever differences they may have had and together attended the country’s first Labor Day parade in New York City in 1882.
There’s a good story in there somewhere.
I’m choosing the obvious one of two men who did something to benefit workers in this country and came together to celebrate rather than condemn one another or call each other names or compare the sizes of their parades.
Also, the 8-hour workday needs to be reinstated.
So, there you have it!
Enjoy your week.
~Gail
Countdown: 18 weeks left of 2024
Before you go, don’t forget to sign up for my mailing list, below:
Interesting! I did not know this. I’m all for a 4 hour workday.
You get the ball rolling, Kurt, and I’ll walk in your parade. 🙂